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Congo Conga

by The J&B Kings

supported by
Steve Rodgers
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Trom Bone
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Marty Brown
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jjrbme
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about

In the late 1930s, the Conga was a wildly popular dance featured in Hollywood "Latin" musicals – Too Many Girls (1940) with Cuban star Desi Arnaz jamming as a conga-playing Argentine student. Arnaz made a more significant impact in the Deanna Durbin feature; It Started With Eve – when Durbin and renowned actor Charles Laughton dance to the infectious rhythm in a nightclub.
The Conga originates from Cuban carnival dance styles – more hip movements and physical body movement the language shared between male and female partners. The dance - initially credited to African slaves brought over to the West Indies would eventually become a popular street dance in Cuba - played with a staccato beat and grinding rhythm. The dance patterns and craze eventually filtered it's way to North America.

At times, Cuban politicians interceded and dampened down the impact of the music on its citizenry. During the dictatorship of Machado, the citizens of Havana were forbidden to dance the Conga. Rival parties would gather in the street and beat the hell out of one another with the Conga as the soundtrack.

The J&B Kings pay respect to a music style that would soon die on a "cartoon vine" when the very nature of its boldness, political will, and urban street chic eclipsed by Hollywood film buffoonery. The Kings bring a contemporary edge back to the music featuring New Orleans Chris Butcher and his Heavyweights Brass Band down the middle – Cuba's Magdelys Savigne of OKAN congas and reggae hall of fame Everton
"Pablo" Paul percussion.

credits

released April 18, 2020
Produced and composed by Jesse & Bill King
Sound Design/guitar/bass – Jesse "Dubmatix" King
Keyboards/Bill King – Horn Arrangement
Mixing: Jesse & Bill King
Mastering: Jesse "Dubmatix" King
Chris Butcher – trombone
John Pittman – trumpet
Paul Metcalfe – tenor sax
Magdelys Savigne – congas
Everton Paul - percussion

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Bill King Piano Toronto, Ontario

Indiana born, Toronto-based musician and producer.

Spanning a career that has seen Bill study with the legendary Oscar Peterson, become the musical director for Janis Joplin, tour with Martha Reeves, The Pointer Sisters and more - his output delves into rhythm, blues, soul, jazz and more ... more

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